Warmup contactor for guided missile launching system



May 14, 1963 s. LANDSTROM EIAL 3,089,925

wARuuP CONTAC'I'OR FOR GUIDED uIssIus: LAUNCHING sys'rm Original Filedon. 22. 1959 a Sheets-Sheet 1 Sven Lana'sfrom Mi/fon C. Neuman Richard63 Wilson INVENTORS w. @W BY walla Jim/U NEYS May 14, 1963 s. LANDSTROMETAL 3,039,9

WARMUP CONTACTOR FOR GUIDED MISSILE LAUNCHING SYSTEM 8 Sheets-Sheet 2Original Filed Oct; 22, 1959 a w a m om I 1 I I 7 1 m I la May 14, 1963s. LANDSTROM ETAL 3,089,925

WARMUP coumcroa FOR GUIDED mssma muncnmc sysrm Original Filed Oct. 22,1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 y 1963 s. LANDSTROM EAL 3,089,925

WARMUP CONTACTOR FOR GUIDED MISSILE LAUNCHING SYSTEM 8 Sheets-Sheet 4Original Filed 001:. 22, 1959 2 l 9 3 8 H w 6 H 7 2 2 a 2 o a 4 m l 4 Am7% 4 m it). Ii I z May 14, 1963 s. LANDSTROM ETAL 3,039,925

mun? comc'roa FOR comm uxssns uumcamc SYSTEM 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 OriginalFiled Oct. 22, 1959 FIG. 5

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May 14, 1963 wAauuP CONTACTOR 'FOR GUIDED MISSILE LAUNCHING sys'rmOriginal Filed Oct. 22, 1959 S. LANDSTROM EI'AL zma 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 May14, 1963 S. LANDSTROM EI'AL WARIUP CONTACTOR FOR GUIDED MISSILELAUNCHING SYSTEII Original Filed Oct. 22, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 May 14,1963 s. LANDSTROM ETAL 3,089,925

WARMUP CONTACTOR FOR GUIDED MISSILE LAUNCHING SYSTE" Original Filed Oct.22, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG. .9

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United States Patent 6 Claims. (Cl. 200-23) This invention relatesgenerally to electrical contact devices, and more particularly itpertains to an umbilical connector arrangement for completing electricalcircuitry in missiles.

' This is a divisional patent application of a co-pending parentapplication entitled Guided Missile Launching System, U.S. patentapplication, Serial Number 848,163, filed October 22, 1959, by Myron J.Bauer et al.

It is an object of this invention to provide a contact makingarrangement for completing electrical circuitry from the exterior to theinterior of a missile.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rapid acting automaticcontact extender and retractor arrangement having a gentle but positivesimple harmonic action.

Still even another object of this invention is to provide a contactordevice for' completing an electrical circuit to a contact pad spacedtherefrom and consisting of a movable contact block connected to anexternal circuit, together with means for moving the contact block tothe contact pad in simple harmonic motion so as to complete theconnection to the external circuit.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an umbilical typecontactor arrangement having rotary wiping heavy current bristle typecontacts.

And yet another object of this invention is to provide an extendingmechanism for a hydraulically controlled contacting device which cannotbe overextended and which includes fail safe features in the event thehydraulic pressure for the operation thereof is lost.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided an umbilical type ofcontactor arrangement for completing electrical circuitry in a missileand to apply warmup power to the missile during assembly of aerodynamicsurfaces to a missile weapon, and during other delays incident toprefiight preparations of the missile weapon.

This arrangement consists basically of a movable contact block having aplurality of contact elements connected to an external circuit, togetherwith a contact pad having a corresponding number of opposing contactelements.

In addition to the above, means are provided for moving the contactblock in a simple harmonic motion to either extend or retract thecontact block from the contact pad so as to complete or interruptelectrical circuits between corresponding contacts. Also, other meansare provided for aligning the contact block with the contact pad.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will becomemore readily apparent and understood from the accompanying specificationand drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a missile weapon illustrating a contactpad and suspension shoes;

FIG. 2 is a dimetric view, partly in section, of a warmup contactorincorporating features of this invention showing the contact box thereofretracted;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken along line 33 of FIG. 5 showing theright half of the warmup contactor extended and the left half retracted;

FIG. 4 is a dimetric view, partly in section, of the warmup contactor ofFIG. 2, showing the contact box thereof extended;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic components for the warmupcontactor;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a universal alignment head for the warmupcontactor;

FIG. 7 is a cross section of the warmup contactor box and alignment headillustrating the beginning of the engagement thereof with the missilecontact pad;

FIG. 8 is a cross section similar of FIG. 7 of the warmup contactor boxand alignment head illustrating complete engagement thereof with themissile contact pad;

FIG. 9 is a vertical section partly in side elevation, of a high currentcontact of the warmup contactor;

FIG. 10 is a vertical section, partly in cross section, of a low currentcontact of the warmup contactor; and

FIG. 11 is an end elevation of an extended contactor box with a weatherdoor variation, with portions of the engaged missile being shown inphantom.

Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, there is illustrated generallytherein a warmup contactor 2021. The warmup contactor 2021 is intendedto engage an electrical contact pad 106 on a missile of a missile weapon400. This weapon 400 consists of the missile 100 having a plurality ofwings 102 and fins 104, and a -booster 200 having booster fins 208. Themissile '100 is secured to the booster 200 by a clamping ring 402. Thebooster 200 is provided with upper forward and rear handling shoes 202and 204, and lower forward and rear handling shoes 203 and 205,respectively, and an arming mechanism 206 for the booster. In addition,the missile 100 is provided with a warhead arming mechanism 110.

The warmup contactor 2021 is used to apply external electrical warmuppower to the missile 100 during the assembly of the aerodynamic wings102 and fins 104 and 208 and during other delays incident to thepre-flight preparations thereof. During this operation, the missile 100is suspended by the pair of shoes 202 and 204 from a convgyir trunksection VII, illustrated partially in FIGS. 2 an The warmup contactor2021 is supported above and extends and retracts, as shown in the splitview of FIG. 3, and in FIGS. 2 and 4, approximately eight inches throughthe center of the conveyer trunk. The trunk section is provided withskid tracks 2048 and 2050 for supporting the missile 100, and also hasdrive chain tracks 2052 and 2054 therebetween. A section of the chaintracks 2052 and 2054 folds away to accommodate an extendable warmupcontactor box 2148, shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.

The exact location of the contactor pad 106 on a missile 100 will varydue to mechanical inexactness in the structure of the missile andsuccessive load cycles. As a result, the contactor box 2148 must beindividually aligned to each missile 100 by a floating block 2157,illustrated in FIG. 6. This is accomplished by a counter-sunk locatorsocket 108, shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the missile contact pad 106.

The bottom of the contactor box 2148 is fitted with a round, taperedlocator 2150 which extends beyond the contactor box 2148, as illustratedin FIGS. 7 and 8. Once the missile 100 has been positioned beneath thewarmup contactor 2021, hydraulic fluid is ported to a rack piston 2152and a pinion shaft detent 2153, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5. Thepinion shaft detent 2153 is hydraulically released to permit the warmupcontactor box 2148 to be extended approximately eight inches. As thewarmup contactor box 2148 is extended, as shown best in FIG. 8, thelocator 2150 engages the locator socket 108 and automatically aligns thewarmup contactor box 2148 with respect to the contactor pad 106 of themissile 100.

A universal alignment head 2155, located just back of a guide yoke 2154,allows the contactor box 2148 to move in a longitudinal and/ ortransverse direction to match the position of the contactor pad 106, asshown in FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIG. 7 of the drawings, the contactor box 2148 is shownin the centered free position, with the contactor box 2148 and pad 106misaligned in one plane. FIG. 8 shows the contactor box 2148 aligned andengaged with the contactor pad 106 of the missile 100. Centering freedomof the contactor box 2148 is provided for similar misalignment in thetransverse direction.

The previously mentioned universal alignment head 2155 to which thecontactor box 2148 is mounted provides for plus or minus one half aninch displacement in the longitudinal and transverse directions. Theuniversal alignment head 2155 is provided with four pivot bars 2156, asshown in FIG. 6. These pivot bars 2156 are vertically and pivotallymounted to the center or floating block 2157 of the universal alignmenthead 2155 by four vertical pins 2158.

An opposite pair of the four pivot bars 2156 are pivotally supported bytwo yoke brackets 2159 by means of horizontal pins 2160. The yokebrackets 2159 depend from the guide yoke 2154 by pivot shafts 2161 whichare held in place by C-washers 2162. The remaining pair of pivot bars2156 are pivotally pinned to a pair of hangers 2163.

The four vertical pins 2158 are press fitted to their associated pivotbars 2156 but are loosely fitted in oversize holes 2185 in the floatingblock 2157. Thus captivated, the pivot bars 2156 can rotate about theiraxes to a limited degree and compensate for a one and one-quarter degreetilt of the contactor box 2148 if required by an off-level missilecontact pad 106.

In FIG. 7, the locator 2150 is shown misaligned with the locator socket108 by approximately one quarter inch, while FIG. 8 shows the universalalignment arrangement providing the necessary compensation therefor.

Aside from the longitudinal angular and transverse variations in theposition of the current contacts 2190 and 2191, the vertical positioningthereof must also be provided for. As shown in FIG. 4, there is provideda connecting rod 2180 for a crank 2182 which provides a fixed stroke ofeight (8) inches. However, the contactor box 2148 travels less than thisdistance, depending on the vertical position of the missile contact pad106.

An overtravel spring 2184 provided for the spindle 2171 permits theconnecting rod 2180 to overtravel after the contactor box 2148 hasengaged the missile contact pad 106. .When thecrank pin 2183 is in aself-locked, overcenter position, the 500 pound overtravel spring 2184through a plunger spindle 2186 governs the actual contact pressure ofthe components, that is, the warmup contactor 2021 and the contactor pad106. Failure of hydraulic power will thus not affect the contactpressure of the warmup contactor 2021 with the contactor pad 106 of themissile 100. The overtravel spring 2184 provides an added function, bestillustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. v

The universal alignment head 2155 is provided with a cap 2147 whichreceives one end of a tiltable pressure rod 2165. The rod 2165 takes thetotal vertical force of about 500 pounds which exists between thecontactor box 2148 of the warmup contactor 2021 and the contactor pad106 of the missile 100 upon contact. This force is distributed throughthe individual electrical contacts 2190 and 2191.

The compression of the overtravel spring 2184 is transmitted by theplunger spindle 2186 against the rod 2165. This force holds a flat head2149 of the rod 2165 against the guide yoke 2154, normally keeping theflat head 2149 parallel therewith and the rod 2165 vertical to centerthe contactor box 2148 in the assembly.

If the contactor box 2148 shifts to align with the missile contact pad106, the flat head 2149 pivots on one side further compressing thespring 2184, as illustrated by comparing FIGS. 7 and 8. The linkage oneach side of the block 2157 holds the contactor box 2148 parallel withthe contact pad 106. When the contactor box 2148 is re- 4 tracted, thepressure of the overtravel spring 2184 against the rod 2165 againcenters the contact box 2148.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, the high current and low current contacts 2190 and2191, respectively, are shown in detail for the warmup contactor 2021,shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. As shown, the current contacts 2190 and 2191 areindividually spring-loaded by the springs 2192. The springs 2192 createpressure which holds the high and low current contacts 2190 and 2191snugly in place during engagement with the contactor pad 106 of themissile 100. The current contacts 2190 and 2191 are also provided withberyllium copper wire bristles 2193 which are soldered to the ends ofthe contacts.

As a current contact 2190 or 2191 is compressed against its respectivespring 2192, it is forced to revolve. This causes the bristles 2193 tomove like a circular brush through the agency of a helix pin 2194, whichpasses through the center of the current contact 2190 or 2191, and isguided by a twisted cam slot 2195 in a contact quill 2196. The hexagonshaped quill 2196 is fitted to a hexagon socket 2197 in a phenolicinsulator block 2198. This prevents the contact quill 2196 fromrotating. Terminal wires 2199 enter into the contactor box 2148 througha plurality of separate flexible conduits 2189, as shown in FIGS. 7 and8.

As previously mentioned, the contactor box 2148 is connected to theguide yoke 2154 through the universal alignment head 2155, with theguide yoke 2154 being attached to the end of a vertically mountedspindle 2171 through a semifloating linkage. The spindle 2171 isvertically guided in a housing column 2173 while the guide yoke 2154slides in a pair of gibs 2172 mounted on the trunk section VII, as shownin FIG. 2.

The bottom end of the spindle 2171 is slidably attached to theconnecting rod 2180 through the overtravel spring 2184 and a plunger2175 in the following manner. The plunger 2175 is pivotally pinned tothe connecting rod 2180 with a wrist pin 2176. Below this pivot point,the plunger 2175 is provided with a circular disc 2177. Two pins, notshown, located about two-thirds of the way down on the spindle 2171 holdan annularly grooved ring-like spring retainer 2174 thereto. The disc2177 of the plunger 2175 is between this spring retainer 2174 and theovertravel spring 2184. Therefore, the spring pressure is against theretainer and not against the connecting rod 2180 and the crank 2182.

A valve block 2178 is mounted to the column 2173'. An opening in thecolumn 2173 accommodates a pinion shaft 2169. As the shaft 2169 rotatesdegrees, the crank 2182 swings out and extends beyond elongated slots2179 in the column 2173 and spindle 2171. As the crank 2182 rotates, thespindle 2171 slides within the column 2173. Another vertical elongatedslot in the spindle 2171 allows clearance for the pinion shaft 2169 asthe spindle 2171 lowers or raises.

The connecting rod 2180 makes a fixed stroke of eight inches, but thecontactor box 2148 will travel less than this when mating with a missilecontact pad 106. After the contactor box 2148 has contacted the contactpad 106, the rotation of the crank 2182 continues compressing until itis locked four degrees over center. When the contactor box 2148 strikesthe contact pad 106, the overtravel spring 2184 compresses as the crank2182 finishes its stroke. As the contactor box 2148 mates with thecontact pad 106, the crank 2182 continues its rotation, with the springputting approximately 500 pounds of pressure against the pad. When thecrank 2182 is returned to the top, it goes over center four degrees,locking the assembly in the retract position.

The rack piston 2152 is installed in the valve block 2178. Each end ofthe valve block 2178 contains a dashpot type hydraulic buffer 2170 tobuff the end-of-stroke movement of the piston 2152 and preventmetal-to-metal contact.

Hydraulic fluid is directed to either end of the piston 2152, driving itup or down; As the piston 2152 moves,

a rack 2167 drives a pinion 2168. An idler, not shown,

is placed in back of the pinion 2168 for the piston 2152 to roll againstto prevent binding of the piston. The pinion 2168 drives a ball bearingmounted pinion shaft 2169 that is coupled to the crank 2182 on one endand the shaft detent 2153 on the other. Two cams 2151 are cut in theshaft 2169 which engage the detent 2153 in the raised and loweredposition. Hydraulic pressure unseats the detent 2153, and allows theshaft 2169 to rotate. The contactor box 2148 is extended or retractedwith the half turn rotation of the pinion shaft 2169, and the crank2182. Sections of the loader chain tracks 2052 and 2054 are linked tothe guide yoke 2154 and fold open when the contactor box 2148 extends,as shown in FIG. 3.

In FIG. 5, there is shown a schematic diagram of the warmup contactor2021. A three-land warmup contactor selector valve 2466 directsaccumulator pressure fluid to either end of the warmup contactor rackpiston 2152. Orifices 2467 are located in separate hydraulic dischargeor tank passages to control the flow of hydraulic fluid in the system.Both ends of the rack piston 2152 have the hydraulic bufiers 2170 thatdecelerate the warmup contactor rack piston 2152 to a stop.

The motion of the warmup contactor piston or gear rack 2167 is almost ata constant velocity over the entire stroke. However, characteristics ofthe crank 2182 and connecting link 2180, in combination, give a simpleharmonic motion to the movement of the contactor box 2148.

In addition to the rotation described for the pinion shaft 2169 andcrank 2182, there are the four degrees of pretravel and four degrees ofovertravel. This provides a shockproof locking feature of the warmupcontactor 2021 on either side of the common centerline. When theaccumulator pressure fiuid is off, the pressure-released spring-loadedpinion shaft detent 2153 engages the cam 2151 on the pinion shaft 2169to prevent it from rotating.

In FIG. 11, there is shown a variation of the present invention. Underconditions where chain tracks are not used in a conveyer trunk, thefolding arrangement of the chain track sections is omitted. In placethereof, a hinged weather door 5086 may be arranged to pivotally swingover or aside the contact box 2148 when it retracts or extends relativeto the contact pad 106 of the missile 100.

The contact box 2148 may in this manner be protected from the weatherwith the missile absent and the contact box 2148 retracted and coveredover.

The operation of the warmup contactor may be made automatic through theagency of electrical signals. A switch SILB3, for example as shown inFIG. 5, can sense the presence of a missile 100 in position on the skidtrack 2048 and 2050 of the trunk section VII. An electrical signaltransmitted thereby to the appropriate solenoid LCOBI or LCOB2 willextend or retract the contact box 2148 as desired.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A connector assembly for aligning and connecting a first member witha second member and comprising, operator means operable to move saidfirst member in simple harmonic motion along a line to efiect engagementor disengagement of said members, said operator means including aconstant speed motor, linkage means connecting said motor to said firstmember in a manner to cause gradual acceleration and deceleration of theinitial and terminal movements of said first member, said first memberincluding a linkage connected member, an intermediate member, and a headmember, said intermediate member being connected to said linkageconnected member in a manner to permit relative movement therebetween ina direction normal to said line, said head and said intermediate membersbeing connected in a manner to permit limited relative movementtherebetween in a direction normal to said line and said firstdirection, a pressure rod connecting said head member and said linkageconnected member in a manner to urge said intermediate member and saidhead member toward a central position, and spring means operablyconnected to said linkage means in a manner to urge said members towarddisengagement.

2. A contactor device comprising a housing, a spindle movable in saidhousing, drive means mounted on said housing and operably connected tosaid spindle for raising and lowering said spindle, a contactor box,linkage means connecting said box to said spindle for permitting saidbox to move in any direction transverse and relative to said spindle,and centering means retained within said spindle and bearing againstsaid box for aligning said box with said spindle.

3. The contactor device according to claim 2 in which said drive meansprovides simple harmonic motion of said spindle through a givendistance, and bias means intermovement therewith, drive means mounted onsaid housing for moving said housing, bias means interposed between saidspindle and said drive means, a contactor bo'x having a recess therein,linkage means connecting said box to said guide yoke for permitting saidbox to be moved transverse and relative to said spindle, and centeringmeans interposed between said bias means and said recess.

5. A contactor device comprising a housing, a spindle movable in saidhousing, a plunger movably mounted in said spindle, drive means mountedon said housing for moving said plunger, bias means interposed betweensaid drive means and said plunger, a guide yoke attached to saidspindle, a contactor box, linkage means connecting said contactor box tosaid yoke for permitting said contactor box to move a limited distancein any direction transverse and relative to said yoke, a pressure rodhaving a flat head on one end, said fiat head being retained betweensaid plunger and said yoke, a recessed cap in said contactor box, saidrod having the other end thereof bearing against said recessed cap,whereby as said contactor box is moved transverse to said yoke, said rodwill be tilted thereby causing said flat head to raise said plungerwithin said spindle against the bias of said bias means.

6. A contactor device comprising a housing, a hollow spindle movable insaid housing, a first plunger slidable within said spindle, a connectingrod pivotally attached at one end to said first plunger, a crankpivotally attached to the other end of said rod, said crank beingrotatably mounted on said housing and within said hollow spindle, asecond plunger slidably mounted between said first plunger and saidspindle, bias means interposed between said second plunger and saidfirst plunger, a guide yoke attached to said spindle, said yoke beingslidable in said housing, a pair of yoke brackets pivotally mounted onsaid guide yoke, first pivot bars pivotally mounted on each of said yokebrackets, a floating block pivotally connected to said first pivot bars,a pair of second pivot bars pivotally connected to said block at rightangles to said first pivot bars, hangers pivotally mounted on saidsecond pivot bars, an alignment head pivotally attached to said hangers,said alignment head having a cap, a tiltable pressure rod having one endbearing against said cap and having a flat head on the other end, saidflat head retained between said References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Thomas Apr. 10, 1917 8 Hansen Feb. 15, 1949Dewey et a1 July 28, 1953 Dupre et a1. June 7, 1955 DeJur et a1 Feb. 28,1956 Winkler Oct. 4, 1960 Carlberg et al. Apr. 11, 1961

1. A CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY FOR ALIGNING AND CONNECTING A FIRST MEMBER WITHA SECOND MEMBER AND COMPRISING, OPERATOR MEANS OPERABLE TO MOVE SAIDFIRST MEMBER IN SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION ALONG A LINE TO EFFECT ENGAGEMENTOR DISENGAGEMENT OF SAID MEMBERS, SAID OPERATOR MEANS INCLUDING ACONSTANT SPEED MOTOR, LINKAGE MEANS CONNECTING SAID MOTOR TO SAID FIRSTMEMBER IN A MANNER TO CAUSE GRADUAL ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION OF THEINITIAL AND TERMINAL MOVEMENTS OF SAID FIRST MEMBER, SAID FIRST MEMBERINCLUDING A LINKAGE CONNECTED MEMBER, AN INTERMEDIATE MEMBER, AND A HEADMEMBER, SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBER BEING CONNECTED TO SAID LINKAGECONNECTED MEMBER IN A MANNER TO PERMIT RELATIVE MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN INA DIRECTION NORMAL TO SAID LINE, SAID HEAD AND SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBERSBEING CONNNECTED IN A MANNER TO PERMIT LIMITED RELATIVE MOVEMENTTHEREBETWEEN IN A DIRECTION NORMAL TO SAID LINE AND SAID FIRSTDIRECTION, A PRESSURE ROD CONNECTING SAID HEAD MEMBER AND SAID LINKAGECONNECTED MEMBER IN A MANNER TO URGE SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBER AND SAIDHEAD MEMBER TOWARD A CENTRAL POSITION, AND SPRING MEANS OPERABLYCONNECTED TO SAID LINKAGE MEANS IN A MANNER TO URGE SAID MEMBERS TOWARDDISENGAGEMENT.